Shop Our Etsy Site!

Speaking of being creative, COH is now selling headbands, lapel pins, and decorative birds designed and produced collaboratively by Kate Koprowski, Rachel Hisel, and Karen Roller.  Kate, a student at Asbury Seminary and spring intern at COH, used her skills with crafting to design accessories made from Malawian cloth. Rachel and Karen, experienced crafters as well, quickly picked up the design. Rachel used her sewing know-how to design decorative birds for sale. We've already sold over 30 headbands! All proceeds go to support the Hands of Grace Textile Center.

Visit My African Hands to shop our selection, or email Rachel@cohcommunity.org if you have some crafts you'd like to donate to our sale.

What Can YOU Do?

As you can see, there are lots of creative ways to take the things you love to do and add a twist to help alleviate poverty in our partner communities in Malawi. Sue is using her vocation with horses and her love of staying active, Kate, Rachel, and Karen are using their crafting talents, and our Malawian partners are using their labor and know-how to build their church. Take some time to dream with God about how your passions, hobbies, and talents can be used to be a blessing for others! 

If you have an idea, email laura@cohcommunity.org. We'd love to help you get started any way we can.

An avid runner, biker, and swimmer, Sue had the inspired idea to find sponsors to give a pledge for each mile completed in local competitions (5Ks, Triathlons, etc.) throughout the year. Sponsors are encouraged to give as little as a penny, or as much as possible per mile with all funds going to benefit Circle of Hope.  So far, she has nine sponsors and in three short months (winter months!) she has raised over $500! A horse trainer by vocation, she is also planning a horse show for September that will serve as a fundraiser for COH as well.

We were so encouraged by the creativity and commitment Sue has shown to find a relatively simple way to combine her personal passions with her passion for the children in Malawi! We thought her story might inspire others to find a creative way to use their skills, talents, and hobbies to support COH. To learn more about Sue's idea and progress, visit her website: White Bridge Farm.  

On This Rock I Will Build My Church... 

Members of the Grace Alliance Church laying brick.

Jesus said that upon the confession of his lordship he would build his church. Our partners in Malawi, the Grace Alliance Church, have certainly seen him come through on his promise. Since its start in 2006 the GAC has grown to over 2000 members, many of whom heard the story of God's redemption for the first time and chose to place their faith in Christ. And upon their confession, Jesus is truly building his church.

As hearts and lives are transformed, and more and more people are reconciled both to God and to each other, the need for a church building has become increasingly pressing.  Church leaders have been crying out to God for a while now to provide a church building for them, and for years, not much materialized.  Recently however, they decided to step out in faith and begin building their church themselves, trusting in God's promises to provide for their needs. So far, the progress has been astounding! Many men and woman have volunteered hours of labor to the cause, and money as well.  Last Saturday a group of leaders gathered at the church, they collected MK 60,000 (about $400) to pay the builder and purchase rolls of reinforcing wire.  Every day someone comes to the Grace Center with a bag or two of cement to keep the builder working.  The foundation has been finished, and the church will be finished to window level this week.

"We are not going to wait for Americans to build our church," GAC senior pastor, Pastor Phiri, said. "We are going to build it!"

Three out of four walls are almost ready for windows!

You know development is being done correctly when local leadership realizes they have many of the resources needed to make a change in their communities and they take the initiative to act. In the end, finishing a building of this size may require partnership and some assistance from outside funds.  What's most important however, much more important than the building itself, is that the Malawian people are empowered to make a change for themselves and for their communities.

When Jesus said he would build his church, he was talking about building people, not buildings. The initiative our Malawian partners have shown is evidence that people are being built up, that they are recognizing the dignity that is theirs as a child of God, and they are using the gifts he's given them to make a positive change.  We are so encouraged by their faith, and have much to learn from their example!

Sincerely,
 

Karen Roller
Circle of Hope International